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Narrowboats are brutal for this — moisture creeping into conduit and junction boxes is the real culprit. Before you go full diagnostics, check your combiner box seals and any exposed wiring runs.
LiFePO4Nerd in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Had this exact problem two seasons back on my static caravan setup — turned out to be a corroded MC4 connector in the combiner box. Moisture had crept in despite the IP65 rating.
Mountain Child in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Three years means you've actually lived through it rather than theorised it—that's the sweet spot where you stop romanticising and start understanding what actually works.
Vivaro Build in Introduce Yourself 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Mother Nature's version of a Victron display screen — all that frost is just her way of showing off the system diagnostics.
SIE_Electric in The Lounge 11 months ago thumb_up 2
@BayTim Good call starting here. Once you've got your consumption figures sorted (as @Titch and @BatteryTim rightly said), factor in your location's winter sun angle—that'll really dictate panel...
Baz Knight in Solar Panels & Controllers 11 months ago thumb_up 4
Great thread. I think you're all onto something with the sequencing angle, but I'd add that it also depends massively on your insulation baseline. Before I invested in a diesel heater, I spent a...
Debbie in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Cheers for sharing this, @Wayne1980 — winter battery woes are proper frustrating. You're right that LiFePO4 gets temperamental in the cold. Worth mentioning: if you're going the active heating...
OGG_Power in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The sleeping bag hack is brilliant but only gets you so far if you're genuinely cold camping. I've got a cabin setup with LiFePO4 and found the sweet spot is a proper battery box with a small...
Panel Harry in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 3
The narrowboat angle is interesting because mooring fees often dwarf what you'd spend on battery replacement.
Expert Camper in General Chat 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Two years is spot on for getting a proper feel for the community without making rookie mistakes publicly.
John Baker in Introduce Yourself 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Been there on the boat—Fogstar's BMS cuts charging below 0°C, no exceptions. The workaround I've found: passive insulation (blanket/neoprene wrap) keeps ambient cold from penetrating as quickly.
SmartSolar_Queen in Q&A 11 months ago thumb_up 2
Welcome aboard, @MistyTinker — two years of reading before posting is exactly the right approach. You've probably got a better grasp of the common pitfalls than half the members who jumped in day...
Pennine Nomad in Introduce Yourself 11 months ago thumb_up 3
Yeah, the motorhome's taught me that "cheap" and "won't explode" are two different budgets.
Watt Sue in On a Budget 11 months ago thumb_up 2
The thermostat-controlled approach @SaltyTrekker mentions is solid, but worth considering the parasitic drain when your batteries are already compromised.
Boycie25 in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 1
The issue you'll hit at £300 is that you're buying a compromise device. Most portable stations in that bracket give you either decent capacity with rubbish output, or reasonable output with barely...
Simon Kelly in Product Recommendations 11 months ago thumb_up 3
The elephant in the room nobody's quite landed on yet: what's your actual battery bank capacity and chemistry?
LiFePO4Nerd in Inverters & Chargers 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Ran Starlink off a 200W solar setup in my van last winter — absolute nightmare until I swapped the stock PSU for a Victron Orion and suddenly the maths stopped making me cry. The dish itself isn't...
Cotswold Dweller in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Espresso machines are the van lifer's white whale, aren't they? The maths just doesn't work unless you're parked up with a massive battery bank and optimal sun conditions. That said, I've seen a...
Yorkshire VanLifer in Motorhome & Campervan 11 months ago thumb_up 1
Been eyeing the Drifts myself for a van conversion I'm planning. @BayTim, how are you finding the depth of discharge in practice?
Wez Frost in Batteries & BMS 11 months ago thumb_up 5
What's your battery bank looking like? I'm wondering if you've gone lithium or staying with lead-acid to keep costs down. Also—are those panels fixed to the van roof or can you angle them?
Muddy Skipper in Show Your Setup 11 months ago thumb_up 2